Our social media accounts

5 takeaways from the Reporters Committee’s analysis of press freedom threats in 2018

Post categories

Second annual survey of U.S. Press Freedom Tracker data indicates a troubling escalation in the level of violence aimed at journalists and government actions threatening press freedoms

U.S. journalists and news organizations faced an unprecedented level of attack from politicians and the public alike last year, according to a new report released on World Press Freedom Day by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in its second annual survey of data from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.

2. The number of “leak” prosecutions and reported subpoenas grew.

The Justice Department acted upon its promise in 2017 to crack down on the disclosure of government information to the media, bringing charges against four federal employees in 2018, versus one in 2017, and securing dramatically harsher prison sentences than in earlier cases.

The number of subpoenas reported to the tracker for a journalist’s records or testimony also increased from six in 2017 to 26 in 2018. Although this category is particularly difficult to monitor and under-reported, since most subpoenas do not receive press attention, these numbers are nevertheless concerning. Most troubling was that, in two cases, federal agencies sought information from journalists — New York Times reporter Ali Watkins and law journal editor Daniel Kowalski — in an effort to identify their sources.

3. Typically-rare prior restraint cases were also more common in 2018.

There were five instances reported to the tracker where courts prohibited journalists and news outlets from publishing information in their possession — a significant increase from just one reported instance in 2017. While courts eventually struck down each of these prior restraints after further review, the rise in efforts to prevent the news media from publishing is concerning.

The 122 incidents logged by the tracker in 2018 make clear that while the First Amendment has served as a powerful model for free speech and free press protections abroad, the U.S. news media has experienced increasing hostility in recent years, stoked by virulent attacks from politicians. Public concern is growing that what began as verbal attacks against members of the media by the president may have shifted to more concrete attacks on press freedom using the powers of the executive branch.

Taken together, these incidents demonstrate that even in light of the broad legal protections for press freedom under the First Amendment, it is imperative that the American public and policymakers denounce attacks that are designed to undermine a free press in this country.

Stay informed by signing up for our mailing list

Keep up with our work by signing up to receive our monthly newsletter. We'll send you updates about the cases we're doing with journalists, news organizations, and documentary filmmakers working to keep you informed.